Vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly

Abstract

A vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly for use in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an electric vehicle. The coolant flow sensor includes a dual coil magnetic flow meter or the like for measuring coolant flow rate and the coolant quality sensor includes a sealed hot wire anemometer or the like and an integrated temperature sensor or the like for measuring coolant quality (e.g., ability to absorb heat) and coolant temperature, respectively. The various sensors are disposed in an integrated housing through which coolant is transported.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly, comprising:
 a housing defining a coolant flow channel communicating coolant from a first port to a second port; 
 a coolant flow sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant flow sensor is operable for measuring flow of the coolant; and 
 a coolant quality sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant quality sensor is operable for measuring ability to absorb heat of the coolant; 
 wherein the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor are each partially disposed conformally within a widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a coolant temperature sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant temperature sensor is operable for measuring temperature of the coolant, wherein the coolant temperature sensor is partially disposed conformally within the widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant flow sensor comprises a dual coil magnetic flow meter. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant quality sensor comprises a sealed hot wire anemometer. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board comprising one or more of a microcontroller and a transceiver coupled to one or more of the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor, wherein the printed circuit board is disposed conformally within the widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising an electronic connector coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member disposed about one or more of the first port and the second port. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is disposed in a cooling and thermal management system of one of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and an electric vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly is used to monitor coolant used to cool one or more of an engine, a motor, a transmission, a battery pack, and high power electronics. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly is operable for alerting a user to one or more of coolant flow below a predetermined threshold, coolant ability to absorb heat below a predetermined threshold, and coolant temperature above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       11. A method for providing a vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly, comprising:
 providing a housing defining a coolant flow channel communicating coolant from a first port to a second port; 
 providing a coolant flow sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant flow sensor is operable for measuring flow of the coolant; 
 providing a coolant quality sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant quality sensor is operable for measuring ability to absorb heat of the coolant; and 
 disposing the housing in a cooling and thermal management system of a vehicle; 
 wherein the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor are each partially disposed conformally within a widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a coolant temperature sensor disposed at least partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant temperature sensor is operable for measuring temperature of the coolant, wherein the coolant temperature sensor is partially disposed conformally within the widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coolant flow sensor comprises a dual coil magnetic flow meter. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coolant quality sensor comprises a sealed hot wire anemometer. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a printed circuit board comprising one or more of a microcontroller and a transceiver coupled to one or more of the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor, wherein the printed circuit board is disposed conformally within the widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing an electronic connector coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a sealing member disposed about one or more of the first port and the second port. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is disposed in the cooling and thermal management system of one of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and an electric vehicle. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly is used to monitor coolant used to cool one or more of an engine, a motor, a transmission, a battery pack, and high power electronics. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly is operable for alerting a user to one or more of coolant flow below a predetermined threshold, coolant ability to absorb heat below a predetermined threshold, and coolant temperature above a predetermined threshold.